Text Box:   The Lion’s Den March 10, 2008                                                                                                     

Text Box: Something to Think About:   “To love what you do and feel that it matters – how could anything be more fun?   - Katharine Graham          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box: Rigor in Our School   One of the goals is to increase rigor in our schools.  Sometimes we think that rigor is created when we assign more.  If twenty questions are good, fifty questions demonstrate rigor.  Actually, there are some simple ways to measure rigor in your classroom.  In schools where rigor is the rule, here’s what can be seen: Students are able to read and understand powerful and challenging texts and examine the ideas found in them. Students are able to collect and organize information, to speak and write effectively, and to master the skills of inquiry and problem solving. Students are able to understand their own strengths and weaknesses, their own styles of learning, their cultural heritages, and be able to work with people different from themselves. Students are given the opportunity to apply what they learn to settings outside of the classroom in ways that promote citizenship and future careers.    

Text Box: School Announcements For Early Release on March 26th we will be discussing lesson plan development.  We will meet in the media center for this activity.    The PTA is providing each student with a snack of cheese crackers and peanut butter crackers that you may give to the students at your discretion during the FCAT testing.  Each teacher will receive enough crackers to give each student 1 pack of crackers for 2 days.  You will also be receiving a gallon of water (that needs to last for two days) and cups to help the students wash the crackers down.   If you have not completed the ITTS survey please do so before Spring Break.  Please email Ms. Fenton when you have completed the survey and she will check your name of the school list.   Spring NWEA dates are April 14th through the 25th.    Carlyne Joseph, one of our evening custodians, has gone on maternity leave.  She has received very few items as the due date has approached.  At this time she needs a changing table, crib mattress, baby clothes, and diaper bag.  If you have any gently used items you would like to give to her, please see Ms. Lovely.   As we approach Spring Break teachers are asked to be ever mindful about the importance of hall duty.  Adult supervision makes a tremendous difference in promoting appropriate student behavior during the change of classes.   Teachers who have first period and last period planning are reminded that they must adhere to the contractual hours.  Please make sure that you sign in on time and that you do not leave until after the contractual hours have ended.     Ron Hafner will be available during TPLC meetings beginning this Thursday.   He will be giving updates on new program design and implementation.  This is being done to increase knowledge regarding best practices for the new magnet program.  Teachers who wish to get further details about planning for the new program should stop by Mr. Hafner’s office and he will be happy to give you an update!     We continue to ask that teachers remain at their doorways to monitor student behavior during the change of classes.